Unhappy With Syrian Resolution, McCain Could Delay Senate Vote

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Source: Russia Today

Any use of the United States military against Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad may now come later than previously expected. Some US lawmakers who support a strike on Syria are taken aback by the wording of a new draft that would authorize military force.

Among those who are now concerned with moving forward is Senator John McCain (R-Arizona), the long-time lawmaker who has passionately pleaded with the White House to aid rebel fighters opposed to the Syrian government since long before US President Barack Obama asked Congress to approve a military strike.

Sen. McCain, 77, has been among the most adamant anti-Assad crusaders in Washington for years, and in recent days he has advocated strongly for moving forward with Obama’s plans to reprimand the Syrian leader over his alleged use of chemical weapons last month outside of Damascus. McCain is — for the moment — resisting any plan to punish Assad immediately, however, after colleagues in the Senate drafted a new bill this week which alters the terms with which the US would conduct an operation overseas.

The new draft, written by Sen. Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey) and Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tennessee) and unveiled on Tuesday, would mandate that any military action taken against Assad would limit US involvement to 90 days and forbid any American boots on the ground. Additionally, the Obama administration would have to submit a strategy for "achieving a political settlement" in Syria.